Network hibernation system for suspending and resuming operation of computer system operable in network environment in event of power failure or period of inactivity

Abstract

A network hibernation system for use with a computer connected to a local area network. (LAN) which is capable of retaining both data from the computer and data from the network environment created in connection with the LAN in the event of a power failure and also in the event that the computer is idle for a predetermined time period. Upon the restoration of power, the states of the computer and network hibernation system are resumed to the point before the occurrence of the power failure or the idle period. The system includes a network interface for connecting the computer to the local area network; a power controller connected to a data bus, for generating a time-out signal when the computer is in a non-use state during operation of the computer; a power supply connected to the data bus, for generating a power interrupt detection signal upon abrupt termination of a main power source to provide back-up power to the computer system for backing data of the computer in a network environment, and for terminating the back-up power upon reception of a power interrupt signal; a supplemental memory for storing data of the computer in the network environment; a system controller connected to the data bus, for controlling data of the computer in the network environment to be stored in the supplemental memory, for generating the power interrupt signal after the data of the computer in the network environment are stored in the supplemental memory in response to either the time-out signal or the power interrupt detection signal to set the computer in a network hibernation state, and for recovering stored data and restoring the computer in the network environment when the main power source is re-supplied to the computer; and a main memory for storing network hibernation information for the system controller to determine whether the computer is in the network hibernation state.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer system connected to a local area network and operable in a network environment, the computer system comprising: a network interface for connecting said computer system to the local area network;   a data bus;   a power controller connected to said data bus, for generating a time-out signal when said computer system is in a non-use state during operation of said computer system;   a power supply connected to said data bus, for generating a power interrupt detection signal upon abrupt termination of a main power source to provide back-up power to said computer system for backing-up information comprised of data of said computer system and data from said network environment created in connection with a server for the local area network, and for terminating said back-up power upon reception of a power interrupt signal;   means for generating a hibernation signal by logically combining said time-out signal and said power interrupt detection signal;   a first memory for storing said information;   a system controller connected to said data bus, for controlling storage of said information, for generating said power interrupt signal after said information is stored in said first memory in response to said hibernation signal to set said computer system in a network hibernation state, and for recovering said information stored in said first memory and restoring said computer system in said network environment when said main power source is re-supplied to said computer system; and   a second memory for storing network hibernation information for said system controller to determine whether said computer system is in said network hibernation state.   
     
     
       2. The network hibernation system of claim 1, wherein said second memory is a non-volatile memory for storing network hibernation information without power. 
     
     
       3. The network hibernation system of claim 1, wherein said power supply comprises: an AC (alternating current) power source for supplying an AC power;   a power switch for enabling transmission of said AC power,   a linear converting rectifier comprising a transformer having a primary coil connected to the AC power source and a secondary coil connected to first and second output terminals of said linear converting rectifier via a respective diode and capacitor;   a battery and a battery charger connected in cascade to the first output terminal of said linear converting rectifier;   a power supply detector connected to the second output terminal of said linear converting rectifier, for detecting the AC power rectified by said linear converting rectifier;   a power supply state detector connected to the power switch, for detecting the AC power transmitted through said power switch;   a DC (direct current) converting controller coupled to receive output signals of said power supply detector and said power supply state detector, for detecting abrupt termination of said main power source to generate said power interrupt detection signal for providing back-up power to said computer system;   a main power source having a bridge rectifier connected between said AC power source via said power switch and a power supply, for providing first and second voltage signals;   a DC/DC converter connected to said battery charger and said DC converting controller, for providing a DC converted signal to the bridge rectifier of said main power source; and   an augmented slot interrupter comprising a first transistor having a first electrode of a principal electrically conducting channel connected to receive said first voltage signal and a second electrode of said principal electrically conducting channel connected to an augmented slot, and a second transistor having a first electrode of a principal electrically conducting channel connected to a control electrode of said first transistor and connected to receive said second voltage signal and a second electrode of said principal electrically conducting channel connected to a potential terminal, and a control electrode connected to receive said power interrupt detection signal.   
     
     
       4. The network hibernation system of claim 3, wherein said power controller comprises: an address decoder connected to said data bus, for decoding addresses provided from said system controller;   a mask resister connected to said data bus, for masking data provided from said system controller at the addresses decoded by said address decoder and generating a masked registered signal;   first and the second registers each coupled to receive said data provided from said system controller and the addresses decoded by said address decoder, for respectively generating first and second registered signals;   logic means for generating a logic signal by logically combining said masked registered signal and an event signal representing whether said computer system is in said non-use state;   a counter for generating a counted signal by counting said logic signal; and   comparator means for generating said time-out signal upon making a comparison between said counted signal and a respective one of said first registered signal and said second registered signal.   
     
     
       5. The network hibernation system of claim 4, wherein said network interface comprises: a network controller connected to said data bus, for interfacing said computer system with said local area network and enabling said computer system to communicate with the server for the local area network   an oscillator connected to said network controller, for generating a clock to operate said network controller;   a boot read-only-memory connected to said data bus, for storing a booting program for booting the local area network server;   an address programmable read-only-memory connected to said data bus and said network controller, for storing addresses of said network interface;   a DC/DC converter connected to said data bus, for converting said first voltage signal into a third voltage signal having a polarity opposite of said first voltage signal;   first, second and third ports in communication with said network controller;   a transformer interposed between said network controller and said first port;   a transceiver interposed between said transformer and said second port; and   a filter interposed between said network controller and said third port.   
     
     
       6. The network hibernation system of claim 4, wherein said system controller comprises a random-access-memory storing a network hibernation module and a read-only-memory storing a hibernation module for controlling suspension operation of said computer system in the network environment when said main power source is abruptly terminated, and for controlling resume operation of said computer system in the network environment when said main power source is re-supplied to said computer system. 
     
     
       7. The network hibernation system of claim 6, wherein said computer system suspends in said network hibernation state when said system controller stores said information within said first memory and said power supply terminates supply of said back-up power. 
     
     
       8. The network hibernation system of claim 6, wherein said computer system resumes operation in said network environment hibernation state when said information stored in said first memory is restored in a former state before hibernation. 
     
     
       9. A network hibernation method, comprising: connecting a computer system to a local area network for operating in a network environment;   generating a time-out signal when said computer system is in a non-use state for a predetermined time period;   generating a power interrupt detection signal upon abrupt termination of a main power source to provide back-up power to said computer system for backing-up information comprising data of said computer system and data from said network environment created in connection with a server for the local area network, and terminating said back-up power upon reception of a power interrupt signal;   generating a hibernation signal by logically combining said time-out signal and said power interrupt detection signal;   storing said information within a first memory;   generating said power interrupt signal after said information is stored in said first memory in response to said hibernation signal and setting said computer system in a network hibernation state, and recovering said stored information and restoring said computer system in said network environment when said main power source is re-supplied to said computer system; and   storing network hibernation information in a second memory for said system controller to determine whether said computer system is in said network hibernation state.   
     
     
       10. A suspension process of a network hibernation system having a power supply, a power controller, a system controller, a network interface and a network interface, for suspending operation era computer system connected to a local area network, said suspension process comprising: a step in which said power supply providing energy for backing up information comprised of data of said computer system in a network environment and data from said network environment created in connection with a server for the local area network outputs a power interruption signal when a main power source is abruptly interrupted;   a step in which said power controller outputs a time-out signal, when said computer system remains inactive for a predetermined time period;   a step in which said system controller determines whether a hibernation support network driver is installed, when one of said power interruption detection signal and said time-out signal is output from one of said power supply and said power controller;   a step in which a network hibernation module is invoked when the hibernation support net-work driver is installed;   a step in which said network interface is reset when a network hibernation is determined as being enabled;   a step in which said network interface is disabled after said information of said computer system is stored in a memory:   a step in which the power from said power supply is interrupted; and   a step in which said computer system is turned into hibernation.   
     
     
       11. A resume process of a network hibernation system having a power supply, a power controller, a system controller, a network interface and a network interface for resuming operation era computer connected to a local area network, said resume process comprising the steps of: a step of initializing and self-examining the computer, when power is re-applied to said computer after a period of hibernation;   a step of recovering a working environment previous to a power-off by normally booting in cue the computer is not in a hibernation mode and by recovering all the contents of the computer stored in a supplementary memory in case the computer is in the hibernation mode said contents comprising data from the working environment created in connection with a server for the local area network;   a step of invoking a network hibernation module when the system is in a network hibernation mode;   a step of initializing the network interface when the network hibernation mode is enabled after the network hibernation module has been invoked;   a step of recovering the contents of a local memory when there is local memory in the network interface and resetting the network interface;   a step of returning to a hibernation module after the network interface is enabled; and   a step of operating the computer in the working environment before hibernation.   
     
     
       12. A network hibernation system for use in a computer system operable in a network environment, said network hibernation system comprising: a network interface for connecting said computer system with a network and enabling said computer system to operate in said network environment;   a power controller for generating a time-out signal indicating that said computer system is not active for a predetermined time period;   a power supply for supplying back-up power to said computer system by generating an ac-down signal upon indication that main power supply from a main power source to said computer system is abruptly interrupted;   means for generating a hibernation signal in response to said time-out signal and said ac-down signal;   a first memory for storing upon generation of said hibernation signal current operating information of said computer system comprised of data from said network environment created in conjunction with a network server;   a second memory for storing hibernation information indicating whether said computer system is in hibernation upon generation of said hibernation signal; and   a system controller for suspending said computer system in hibernation in response to said hibernation signal after said current operating information of said computer system is stored in said first memory and said hibernation information is stored in said second memory, and for resuming operation of said computer system in said network environment when said current operating information is recovered from said first memory in response to re-application of said main power supply from said main power source to said computer system.   
     
     
       13. The network hibernation system of claim 12, further comprised of said system controller terminating back-up power to said computer system after said current operating information of said computer system is stored in said first memory. 
     
     
       14. The network hibernation system of claim 12, further comprised of second memory corresponding to a non-volatile memory for storing said hibernation information. 
     
     
       15. The network hibernation system of claim 12, further comprised of said power supply comprising: a power switch for enabling transmission of said main power supply from said main power source;   a linear converting rectifier comprising a transformer having a primary coil connected to said main power and a secondary coil connected to first and second output terminals of said linear convening rectifier via a respective diode and capacitor;   a battery and a battery charger connected in cascade to the first output terminal of said linear converting rectifier;   a power supply detector connected to the second output terminal of said linear converting rectifier, for detecting said main power supply rectified by said linear converting rectifier;   a power supply state detector connected to the power switch, for detecting said main power supply transmitted through said power switch;   a converting controller coupled to receive output signals of said power supply detector and said power supply state detector, for defecting abrupt termination of said main power supply from said main power source to generate said ac-down signal providing back-up power to said computer system;   a back-up power source having a bridge rectifier connected between said main power source via said power switch, for providing first and second voltage signals;   a DC/DC converter connected to said battery charger and said direct current converting controller, for providing a DC converted signal to the bridge rectifier of said back-up power source; and   an augmented slot interrupter comprising a first transistor having a first electrode of a principal electrically conducting channel connected to receive said first voltage signal and a second electrode of said principal electrically conducting channel connected to an augmented slot, and a second transistor having a first electrode of a principal electrically conducting channel connected to a control electrode of said first transistor and connected to receive said second voltage signal and a second electrode of said principal electrically conducting channel connected to a potential terminal, and a control electrode connected to receive said ac-down signal.   
     
     
       16. The network hibernation system of claim 12, further comprised of said power controller comprising: an address decoder for decoding addresses provided from said system controller;   a mask register for masking data provided from said system controller at the addresses decoded by said address decoder to generate a masked signal;   first and the second registers each coupled to receive said data provided from said system controller and the addresses decoded by said address decoder, for respectively generating first and second registered signals;   logic means for generating logic signal by logically combining said masked signal and an event signal indicating whether said computer system is not active;   a counter for generating a counted signal by counting said logic signal; and   comparator means for generating said time-out signal upon making a comparison between said counted signal and a respective one of said first registered signal and said second registered signal.   
     
     
       17. The network hibernation system of claim 16, further comprised of said network interface comprising: a network controller for interfacing said computer system with said network enabling said computer system to communicate with said network server;   an oscillator connected to said network controller, for generating a clock to drive said network controller;   a boot read-only-memory for storing a booting program for booting said network server; an address programmable read-only-memory connected to said network controller, for storing addresses of said network interface;   a DC/DC converter for converting said first voltage signal into a third voltage signal having a polarity opposite of said first voltage signal;   first, second and third ports in communication with said network controller and said network server;   a transformer connected between said network controller and said first port;   a transceiver connected between said transformer and said second port; and   a filter connected between said network controller and said third port.   
     
     
       18. The network hibernation system of claim 12, further comprised of said system controller including a random-access-memory storing a network hibernation module and a read-only-memory storing a hibernation module for controlling suspension operation of said computer system in said network environment when said main power source is abruptly terminated, and for controlling resume operation of said computer system in said network environment when said main power supply from said main power source is re-applied to said computer system. 
     
     
       19. The network hibernation system of claim 17, further comprised of said system controller including a random-access-memory storing a network hibernation module and a read-only-memory storing a hibernation module for controlling suspension operation of said computer system in said network environment when said main power source is abruptly terminated, and for controlling resume operation of said computer system in said network environment when said main power supply from said main power source is re-applied to said computer system. 
     
     
       20. The network hibernation system of claim 12, further comprised of said means for generating a hibernation signal in response to said time-out signal and said ac-down signal corresponding an OR gate. 
     
     
       21. The network hibernation system of claim 12, further comprised of said system controller resuming operation of said computer system by: initializing said computer system, when said main power supply is re-applied to said computer system after a period of hibernation;   determining whether said computer system is set in a network hibernation mode for enabling said computer system to resume to said network environment prior to said hibernation;   when said computer system is not set in said network hibernation mode, booting said computer system to resume normal operation of said computer system not in said network environment prior to said hibernation; and   when said computer system is set in said network hibernation mode, initializing said network interface, recovering all current operating information of said computer system temporarily stored in said first memory, and resuming operation of said computer system in said network environment prior to said hibernation.